Light transmitted assay beads

ABSTRACT

A micro bead having a digitally coded structure that is partially transmissive and opaque to light. The pattern of transmitted light is determined by to decode the bead. The coded bead may be structured a series of alternating light transmissive and opaque sections, with relative positions, widths and spacing resembling a 1D or 2D bar code image. To decode the image, the alternating transmissive and opaque sections of the body are scanned in analogous fashion to bar code scanning. The coded bead may be coated or immobilized with a capture or probe to effect a desired bioassay. The coded bead may include a paramagnetic material. A bioanalysis system conducts high throughput bioanalysis using the coded bead, including a reaction detection zone and a decoding zone.

This application claims the benefit of the priority of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/706,896, which was filed Aug. 9, 2005. This provisional application is fully incorporated by reference, as if fully set forth herein. All other publications and U.S. patent applications disclosed herein below are also incorporated by reference, as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to assay beads and methods for use thereof to carry out bioassays, and more particularly multiplexed bioassays using micro-volume samples, such as protein and nucleic acid analysis.

2. Description of Related Art

As current research in genomics and proteomics produces more multiplexed data, there is a need for technologies that can rapidly screen a large number of nucleic acids and proteins in a very small volume of samples. Microarray, DNA chips, and protein chips have drawn a great deal of commercial interest. The assays are typically performed on a planar biochip platform by arraying and immobilizing DNA on a solid support via mechanical printing in the x-y position onto the microscope slide, by piezoelectric ink-jetting or by direct synthesis of DNA on the chip. However, mechanical contact printing is not very attractive because it is printed one spot per contact that results in relatively large printing variations from spot to spot or batch to batch, inconsistent spot morphology, misprinting, and slide surface variations, all of which are undesirable for DNA microarray analysis. Further, distributing a small volume of liquid samples over a relatively large chip surface often encounters the problems of insufficient sample amounts or non-uniform distribution over the chip surface. These problems can cause incomplete reactions or very long reaction time.

Micro bead technology potentially overcomes many of the problems of microarray technology and provides better quality control of each probe, flexibility with the assembly of various type and amount of probes in an analysis, and convenience of doing analysis without mechanical printing. Existing micro bead approaches include (1) the incorporation of beads or particles with spectrally distinguishable fluorophore, fluorescent semiconductor quantum dots, (2) metallic rods with either bar coded color (absorption) stripes or black and white strips, and (3) embossing or compressing 1D or 2D image patterns on the bead. Both fluorescence and barcode strip beads are identified by optical detection in reflective or emissive configuration. The problems of reflection configuration are (1) it is difficult to setup the collection optics in proper position, especially when the beads are in micrometer scale, and (2) the light collection efficiency is poor and the barcode contrast is low, especially when micro beads are in the micro flow system. The flow scatters light, which interferes with optical reflection or emissive detection. Further, fluorescent beads, the spectral range and the possible number of spectrally distinguishable labels, however, often limit the potential number of code variations. Many laser light sources are often needed to excite different fluorescent labels. In addition, the validity of the coding signatures is another serious concern, since the incorporated coding elements in some cases may be lost; photo bleached, or interfered spectrally with the analytical signals. In the case of multi-metal (Au, Pt, Ni, Ag, etc) color micro rods, the encoding scheme suffers from the difficulty of manufacturing and the number of colors, based on different metal materials, is limited. Many 1D or 2D bar codes are recognized by their specific image patterns. Optical imaging method is used for recognition of these bar code patterns. Although high speed camera is available for capturing bar code images, pattern recognition is a slow and time consuming process. It often needs special software to analyze the images section by section. Therefore, it is difficult to identify hundreds or thousands of beads in a short time to improve throughput. The following patent documents disclose some of the systems that exhibit some of the deficiencies noted above.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,886 issued on Aug. 10, 2004, entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses a form of bar coding comprising 30-300 nm diameter by 400-4000 nm multilayer multi metal rods. These rods are constructed by electrodeposition into an alumina mold; thereafter the alumina is removed leaving these small multilayer objects behind. The system can have up to 12 zones encoded, in up to 7 different metals, where the metals have different reflectivity and thus appear lighter or darker in an optical microscope depending on the metal type whereas assay readout is by fluorescence from the target, and the identity of the probe is from the light dark pattern of the barcodes.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,307 issued on Oct. 7, 2003, entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses semiconductor nano-crystals acting as a barcode, wherein each semiconductor nanocrystal produces a distinct emissions spectrum. These characteristic emissions can be observed as colors, if in the visible region of the spectrum, or may be decoded to provide information about the particular wavelength at which the discrete transition is observed.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,420 issued on May 11, 2004, entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses an identification system comprising a plurality of identifiable elements associated with labels, the labels including markers for generating wavelength/intensity spectra in response to excitation energy, and an analyzer for identifying the elements from the wavelength/intensity spectra of the associated labels.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,620 issued on Feb. 26, 2002, discloses a method of producing a micro carrier employing the shape, size, and color of the carrier as image bar codes for identification. The patent discloses an identification system comprising a bar code is formed on the substrate by photolithography, and then using nickel plates to hot compress the bar code onto the surface of bead to form a microcake-like particle. The bar code pattern can be classified by an imaging recognition system.

U.S. Pub. No. US2005/0003556 A1, entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses an identification system using optical graphics, for example, bar codes or dot matrix bar codes and color signals based on color information signal for producing the affinity reaction probe beads. The color pattern is decoded in optical reflection mode.

What is needed is a digitally encoded micro bead that provides for high contrast and high signal-to-noise detection, and that provides for parallel and high-throughput bioanalysis, e.g., of proteins, pathogens, gene expression, single nucleotide polymorphism, nucleic acid-based tissue typing, cell or chromosome sorting, and transcriptional profiling that requires smaller volumes of fluid and rapid assay.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a bead or pallet that is digitally coded as represented by an image that provides for high contrast and high signal-to-noise optical detection to facilitate identification of the bead. The image is implemented by a physical structure having a pattern that is partially substantially transmissive (e.g., transparent, translucent, and/or pervious to light), and partially substantially opaque (e.g., reflective and/or absorptive to light) to light. The pattern of transmitted light is determined (e.g., by scanning or imaging), the code represented by the image on the coded bead can be decoded.

In one embodiment, the coded bead comprises a body having a series of alternating light transmissive and opaque sections, with relative positions, widths and spacing resembling a 1D or 2D bar code image (e.g., a series of narrow slits (e.g., 5 microns in width) representing a “0” code and wide slits (e.g., 10 microns in width) representing a “1” code, or vice versa). To decode the image, the alternating transmissive and opaque sections of the body are scanned with light (in analogous fashion to a bar code scanning process) or imaged (e.g., with a CCD sensor) to determine the code represented by the image determined from the transmitted light.

In one embodiment, the coded bead is provided with a reflective thin film, (e.g., plating or coating the coded bead with a metal thin film, or providing an intermediate layer of metal thin film) to improve contrast and optical efficiency for image recognition for decoding.

In one embodiment, the body of the coded bead may be configured to have at least two orthogonal cross sections that are different in relative geometry and/or size. Further, the geometry of the cross sections may be symmetrical or non-symmetrical, and/or regular or irregular shape. In one embodiment, the longest orthogonal axis of the coded bead is less than 1 mm.

In another aspect of the present invention, a microfluidic apparatus comprises a micro flow channel sized and configured to guide coded beads to advance one at a time pass a decoding. The decoding zone includes a code detector (a light scanner, a CCD sensor, etc.) that detects the pattern of transmitted light through each coded bead for decoding the code represented by the image thereon. The flow channel of the microfluidic apparatus has an internal cross section that has a geometry that is sized and shaped to receive and allow the coded bead to pass through when a particular cross section of the coded bead is aligned with the cross section of the micro flow channel, thereby presenting the coded bead in a particular orientation with respect to the decoding zone. In one embodiment, the geometry of the internal cross section of the flow channel is sized and shaped to receive and allow the coded bead to pass through when the smallest cross section of the coded bead is aligned with the micro flow channel (e.g., the long axis of the coded bead is aligned with the axis of the flow channel). The microfluidic apparatus may include more than one micro flow channel, to provide decoding of coded beads in parallel channels.

The identity of the bead may be associated with other properties and/or characteristics. In another aspect of the present invention, the coded bead is coated or immobilized with a biological and/or chemical substance, as a specific capture or probe to effect a desired bioassay or identification application. A plurality of beads may be applied to conduct multiplexed bioassays. For example the bead may be functionalized with a material selected from the group consisting of proteins, nucleic acids, small molecules, organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, and combinations thereof, allowing for the possibility of multiplexed assays in homogeneous or heterogeneous media, using micro-volume samples.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a bioanalysis system is configured and structured for conducting bioanalysis using the coded bead of the present invention. The microfluidic system comprises the microfluidic apparatus to facilitate high throughput homogeneous or heterogeneous analysis. A detection zone of the microfluidic apparatus includes a reaction detector (e.g., a fluorescence detector, an absorption detector, a chemiluminescent detector, etc.) for detecting the result of reactions taken place on the coded beads. In one embodiment, the assay of the microfluidic system is configured and adapted for high-throughput analysis for immunoassay, gene expression, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) diagnostics, DNA-based tissue typing, or transcriptional profiling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the scope and nature of the invention, as well as the preferred mode of use, reference should be made to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following drawings, like reference numerals designate like or similar parts throughout the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates the process for preparing Light Transmitted Assay Beads (LITAB) for bioassay, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention: (a) Multiple LITAB in a tube, (b) LITAB for bioassay, and (c) a photo image of LITABs.

FIG. 2 (a) is a top view of a LITAB in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2( b) is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2( a).

FIG. 3 illustrates the optical signal pulses representing light transmitted through the pattern of slits in a LITAB.

FIG. 4 illustrates a microfluidic apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bioanalysis system comprising a microfluidic apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 a-6 d illustrates a process for the fabrication of a LITAB.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.

For purposes of illustrating the principles of the present invention and not by limitation, the present invention is described herein below by reference to a micro bead that is in the shape of a pallet, and by reference to bioanalysis. However, it is understood that the present invention is equally applicable to micro beads of other overall geometries, and which are applied for other applications requiring identification based on the identity of the beads, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. To facilitate discussion below, the micro bead of the present invention is referred to as a LITAB, which stands for a light transmitted assay bead.

1. Coded Bead

In one aspect of the present invention, a micro bead is digitally coded as represented by an image that provides for high contrast and high signal-to-noise optical detection to facilitate identification of the bead. The image is implemented by a physical structure having a pattern that is partially substantially transmissive (e.g., transparent, translucent, and/or pervious to light), and partially substantially opaque (e.g., reflective and/or absorptive to light) to light. The pattern of transmitted light is determined (e.g., by scanning or imaging), and the code represented by the image on the coded bead can be decoded.

In one embodiment, the coded bead comprises a body having a series of alternating light transmissive and opaque sections, with relative positions, widths and/or spacing resembling a 1D or 2D bar code image (e.g., a series of narrow slits (e.g., about 1 to 5 microns in width) representing a “0” code and wide slits (e.g., about 1 to 10 microns in width) representing a “1” code, or vice versa, to form a binary code). FIG. 2 illustrates a coded bead, LITAB 11 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The LITAB 11 has a body 25 in the shape of a flat pallet or disc. The body of the coded bead may be configured to have at least two orthogonal cross sections that are different in relative geometry and/or size. Further, the geometry of the cross sections may be symmetrical or non-symmetrical, and/or regular or irregular shape. In this particular embodiment, all three orthogonal axes are of different lengths, and the geometries of all three orthogonal cross sections are symmetrical and of regular shape. FIG. 2( a) shows that the planar geometry resembles a symmetrical stretched oval. FIG. 2( b) shows the cross section showing the longitudinal (or longest) axis. A series of wide and narrow slits 23 and 24 are provided through the body 25, which may be made of or coated with a substantially light opaque material (e.g., reflective or absorptive). The wide and narrow slits 23 and 24 represent a logical “1” and “0”, respectively, or vice versa, and collectively represent a binary code (each slit representing a bit). In this embodiment, the code is analogous to a bar code. The narrow slits may have a width of 5 microns, and the wide slits 24 may have a width of 10 microns. For a LITAB having an overall dimension of 100×50×10 μm to 200 μm×100 μm×20 μm, at least about 10 slits may be provided on the disc to encode 10 bits, allowing 1,024 to 4,096 or more unique codes. In one embodiment, the longest orthogonal axis of the coded bead is less than 1 mm.

While the illustrated embodiment shows a pattern of slits of spaced apart narrow and wide width, it is also possible to use a pattern of slits having a constant width which are spaced apart at narrow and wide spacings between adjacent slits to represent 1's and 0's, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

To decode the image, the alternating transmissive and opaque sections of the body are scanned with light (in analogous fashion to a bar code scanning process) or imaged (e.g., with a CCD sensor) to determine the code represented by the image determined from the transmitted light. For illustration purposes, FIG. 3 shows a series of signal pulses representing the detection of light transmitted through the slits 23 and 24 in the LITAB 11 in FIG. 2( a). The signal pulses correspond to the contrast of transmitted versus blocked light across the longitudinal axis of the LITAB 11. The width of each signal pulses represents a “1” or a “0” in the code of the LITAB 11. In the particular illustrated example, the wider pulses represent 1's and the narrow pulses represent 0's. The relative positions of the slits on the LITAB 11 determine which of the bits is the least significant bit (LSB) or the most significant bit (MSB). In one embodiment, the least significant bit was placed closer to one edge or end of the LITAB 11 to distinguish it from the most significant bit at the opposing edge or end. The concept of decoding the signal pulses is analogous to decoding for a traditional bar code.

In another embodiment, the size of the LITAB is sized and configured to be 150×50×10 μm, or proportionally smaller, and a slit width of about 2.5 μm. Each code on such a LITAB can consist of up to 14 slits (or bits), allowing 16,384 unique codes.

It is noted that in an alternate embodiment, the substantial transmissive section need not be a slit through the entire thickness of the body of the LITAB. The slit may be completely or partially filled with a substantially transparent or translucent material, which nonetheless provides substantially light transmissivity, compared to the opaque section. For example, the LITAB may have a transparent body, covered with a light blocking material (e.g., a reflective material, or a light reflective or absorptive dye) that has openings defining slits exposing the transparent body. Light imagined on this LITAB would transmit light through the body at sections not covered by the blocking material (i.e., the slits), and block light in the covered section.

It is further noted that in the context of the concept of the present invention, the substantially opaque section need not completely block light transmission. It can be a section that substantially blocks light by substantially absorbing light or substantially reflecting light. The design concept is to achieve a high contrast in optical imaging, by relying on the high contrast of light transmissivity between the substantially transmissive section and the substantially opaque section. Compared to reflective or emissive bar code imaging practiced in the prior art, the present invention can achieve significantly higher contrast in the optical image, by detecting transmitted light in reference to blocked light. Also, in the context of the present invention, light transmissivity and opaqueness are reference to the particular frequency of the light from the anticipated light source to be used. For example, the opaque section may substantially block UV light, but may substantially transmit light outside the UV band. Similarly, the transmissive section may substantially transmit UV light, but may substantially block light outside the UV band.

In another embodiment, the coded LITAB can be provided with a reflective thin film or coating, (e.g., plating or coating the surface of the LITAB with a metal thin film, or providing an intermediate, sandwiched layer of metal thin film, or coating with a light absorptive dye) to improve contrast between transmitted versus blocked/reflected light and optical efficiency for image recognition for decoding, as discussed further discussed below.

The LITAB 11 may be fabricated using conventional methods used in thin film formation in a clean room microfabrication facility. The structure of the LITAB 11 may be obtained using processes that may include conventional photo-lithography, printing, silk-screening, curing, developing, etching (e.g., chemical etching, ion etching, and/or other removing processes), plating, dicing, and other process steps well known in the art for such types of structure and the material involved. The details of the steps in these processes have been omitted, as they may involve conventional patterning and photolithographic steps well known in semiconductor and/or micro-structure processing. The specific fabrication steps and materials involved, other than those specific steps and materials mentioned herein, when viewed alone are not a part of the present invention. It is noted that even though the disclosure herein may, by way of examples and not limitations, refer to specific coating, formation, patterning, deposition or other processes in connection with certain layers or structures, other processes may be substituted without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. There may be intermediate or interposing layers, coatings, or other structures present, and associated process steps present, which are not shown or discussed herein, but could be included without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. For example, there may be buffer layers, primer layers, seed layers, adhesives, coatings, surface finishes, or other structures present. Other variations may be implemented without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6( a) to (d), in one embodiment of the process for fabricating the LITAB, a layer 52 of Ti (e.g., 100 nm) is deposited by e-beam evaporation on a substrate 50, e.g., a clean glass slide (e.g., about 1 mm thick). Ti functions as a conducting seed layer as well as a surrogate releasing layer. The body 25 of the LITAB 11 may be formed using a layer of polymeric material. For example, a photoresist photopolymer (e.g., SU-8 and the like, as known in the art), may be utilized in creating the LITABs 11. A layer 21 of polymeric material is spin-coated on the Ti layer 52, and the slits 23 and 24 are formed in such layer using standard photolithographic procedures. For example, the slits 23 and 24 may be defined by UV-light irradiation using a photomask (not shown) defining the desired pattern of wide and narrow slits, and the planar shape of the LITAB body 25. An array of LITABs 11 may be formed on a single substrate, each having a different slit pattern representing a different code. The photomask may also define the periphery of the array of LITAB bodies, such that the LITAB bodies are separated from one another at the end of the same photolithographic process that defines the slits. Because SU-8 is transparent, an e-beam evaporator is utilized to deposit a gold (Au, 0.1 μm) top layer 22 (see also FIG. 1( b)) on the SU-8 layer 21 supported on the substrate 50. The individual LITAB bodies 25 (shown in FIG. 2( b)) are finally freed from the underlying substrate 50 by dissolving the surrogate Ti layer 52 with an etching solution containing hydrofluoric acid (HF). The SU-8 LITAB will retain the gold coating because HF does not attack gold. In this way, the gold pattern on the LITAB blocks light by reflecting light (directed to both from the side exposed and the side adjacent to the SU-8 layer 21), and slits not covered by slits transmit light. Because the gold layer 22 blocks the light, while the open slits transmit the light, LITAB “bar codes” provide high optical signal, and high optical contrast when the transmitted light is detected.

An alternate embodiment may include the gold layer as a layer sandwiched between two SU-8 layers, by appropriately modifying the above described process. With this embodiment, surface condition could be made the same for both exposed planar surfaces of the LITAB, to provide similar surface coating and immobilization conditions, as will be discussed below. As in the previous embodiment, the thin metal layer enhances the signal contrast ratio of the transmitted light detection.

To facilitate bioassays as will be apparent from further discussion below in connection with the microfluidic system, a paramagnetic material may be coated or imbedded in the LITAB (e.g., as a surface or intermediate layer in the LITAB, mixed into the material of the LITAB, or at one end of the LITAB). Because paramagnetic materials have a relatively small and positive susceptibility to the magnetic field, the LITAB can be immobilized at a desired location by an external magnetic field, and the LITAB can be mobilized when the external field is removed. Paramagnetic materials include magnesium, molybdenum, lithium, aluminum, nickel, and tantalum. The incorporation of magnetic materials into the LITAB offers the ability to immobilize the LITAB to facilitate washing, and potentially detection of the transmitted light. Reference may be made to paramagnetic latex beads, which are commonly used in automated diagnostic systems, especially when the processes require a washing step. However, for prior art micro beads with reflective bar coding, no magnetic material has been incorporated. This is because the magnetic material being inherently dark, would not be compatible with the reflective bar code, which requires alternating dark and white lines. It is noted that the paramagnetic coating on the LITAB would also function as a light blocking material, so a reflective layer may not be necessary. The present invention would allow decoding based on transmitted light, even in the presence of the paramagnetic material.

2. Synthesis of LITAB

The identity of the LITAB may be associated with other properties and/or characteristics for purpose of bioassays, for example. In another aspect of the present invention, the coded LITAB is coated or immobilized with a biological and/or chemical substance, as a specific capture or probe to effect a desired bioassay or identification application. A plurality of beads may be applied to conduct multiplexed bioassays. For example the bead may be functionalized with a material selected from the group consisting of proteins, nucleic acids, small molecules, organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, and combinations thereof, allowing for the possibility of multiplexed assays in homogeneous or heterogeneous media, using micro-volume samples.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment for preparing LITAB for bioassays. As shown in FIG. 1( a), the LITABs 11 allow multiplexed homogeneous bioassays on micro-volume samples. A mixture of LITABs 11 corresponding to different codes 14 are introduced into a small volume of biological sample 12 in a tube 13. The LITABs can be optically decoded easily and rapidly thereafter. In one embodiment, FIG. 1( b) shows one LITAB 11 functionalizing with nucleic acid probe 15 for target hybridization 16 and fluorescence detection 17. Several materials are available for bead immobilization. In one embodiment, the LITAB may be coated with a covalent DNA-binding agent used in microarray. The probe beads were subsequently hybridized in solution to a complementary oligo target which carried a covalently bound Cy5 fluorophore at its 5′ end. FIG. 1( c) is an image of LITABs (size 200 μm×100 μm×20 μm) captured with a video microscope.

It is necessary for the LITAB material to have a similar or lower density than water or the intended solution used. Therefore, the LITABs 11 can homogeneously suspend in the aqueous solution for reactions. The LITAB material is configured to have about the same density as the liquid medium enabling the bead to suitably float in the medium. In addition, the material should be strong enough to be able to resist deformation that may result from sheer stresses during mixing and the like processes. As noted above, the body of the LITABs 11 may be made of a photoresist photopolymer such as the SU-8 photoresist polymer.

3. LITAB in Microfluidic System

In another aspect of the present invention, a microfluidic apparatus comprises a micro flow channel sized and configured to guide coded LITAB to advance one at a time pass a decoding zone. The decoding zone includes a code detector (a light scanner, a CCD sensor, etc.) that detects the pattern of transmitted light through each coded LITAB for decoding the code represented by the image thereon. The flow channel of the microfluidic apparatus has an internal cross section that has a geometry that is sized and shaped to receive and allow the coded LITAB to pass through when a particular cross section of the coded LITAB is aligned with the cross section of the micro flow channel, thereby presenting the coded LITAB in a particular orientation with respect to the decoding zone. In one embodiment, the geometry of the internal cross section of the flow channel is sized and shaped to receive and allow the coded LITAB to pass through when the smallest cross section of the coded LITAB is aligned with the micro flow channel (e.g., the long axis of the coded bead is aligned with the axis of the flow channel). The microfluidic apparatus may include more than one micro flow channel, to provide decoding of coded LITABs in parallel channels.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a microfluidic apparatus 31 that is designed to decode the code of the LITAB 11. The microfluidic apparatus includes a micro flow channel 32 having a rectangular internal cross section sized and shaped to accommodate a single LITAB 11 in a specific desired orientation (in this case the longitudinal axis of the LITAB 11 is along the axis of the flow channel and the planar surface of the LITAB 11 is generally concentric to the wall of the channel) to flow pass a particular point in the channel. A solution carrying the LITABs flows through the micro flow channel 32, thereby causing the LITABs to flow through the micro channel 32 (e.g., in the laminar flow stream of the solution). The inlet of the micro flow channel 22 is tapered to guide the LITABs to align their longitudinal axis with the channel axis. In other words, the tapered channel inlet geometry is sized and configured to have an internal cross section with a dimension smaller than the dimension of the longitudinal axis of the LITAB 11. In another embodiment, the cross section of the micro flow channel may be axisymmetrical (e.g., a circle having a diameter large enough to accommodate the width of the LITAB 11).

The LITAB pass through a decoding zone one at a time. A decoding system, positioned with respect to the decoding zone, includes a light source and an optical sensor. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the light source may be a diode laser 33 at 650 nm wavelength, with a 50× objective lens 34, and the optical sensor may be a high-speed photon detector 35 and digital readout electronics 36. Alternatively, an area light source (e.g., a laser beam having a large enough spot size) may be used to project light to simultaneously cover the entire area of the coded pattern (all the slits) on the LITAB 11, and an area optical sensor such as a CCD sensor may be used to image simultaneously the entire coded pattern and the light transmitted therethrough. Alternatively, a line scan camera may be used for the optical sensor.

As the LITABs pass through the decoding zone, light from the laser 33 is transmitted through the light intensity is detected by the photon detector and directly converted into 1's and 0's using threshold detection (no analog to digital conversion needed), thereby simplifying the electronics requirements. The position of the slits on the LITAB determines which of the bits is the least significant (LSB) and most significant bit (MSB). The slight orientation variation of the LITAB in the confined microchannel would not significantly affect the efficiency of the optical detection and consequent decoding.

More than one decoding zone having a separate decoding system may be provided along the micro flow channel 32, which may be used for detection redundancy. Further, the decoding system may include more than one set of light source and optical sensor. For example, two sets of light sources and optical sensors may be configured with orthogonal light paths through the micro flow channel 32. This decoding system would be useful if the cross section of the micro flow channel is axisymmetrical (e.g., circular cross section), such that the LITAB 11 may substantially rotate about the flow axis. Orthogonal axis decoding optics would improve orientation of the slits in relation to at least one of the decoding axis.

The flow rate through the micro flow channel may be made adjustable by using and controlling an external vacuum exhaust line pulling the flow or an external pressure supply pushing the flow. For example, an optimal flow velocity (e.g. 0.1-10 μl/s) is adjusted to secure LITAB integrity during the transportation process.

The digital readout electronic 36 (MHz-GHz) may control a line scan camera using a microcontroller or digital signal processor, which collects data from the optical sensor 35 when triggered and gated. The digital processor reads the stream of 1's and 0's that represent light intensities at intervals of 100 μs, for example, and perform rapid pattern recognition to determine the slit width sequence, based on the spacing between 1's and 0's. The LITABs 11 are configured to move at a speed of about 10-30 mm/sec, so that readout only requires about 7 milliseconds per LITAB. The readout throughput for 100,000 LITABs with 10 ms/per LITAB would require about 16 minutes per assay. Data-processing steps may be implemented by algorithms using digital signal processing software, including a c-code that quickly and efficiently processes each pattern. Details of such software are not discussed herein, since it can be developed by one skill in the art, given the functions and processes discussed herein.

An electromagnet (not shown) may be provided at the decoding zone, adjacent the micro flow channel 32, to temporarily immobilize the LITAB 11 for decoding, especially if a line scan camera is used to decode the LITAB 11. The LITAB 11, which comprises a paramagnetic material, is immobilized in the flow stream by turning on the electromagnet, and is allowed to flow down the channel by turning off the electromagnet.

The microfluidic apparatus 31 has at least two advantages: (1) it makes precise centering of the LITAB possible, thus establishing the basis for hydrodynamic illumination; and (2) it reduce the possibility of LITAB stacking across the flow stream. If we assume 1,000 LITAB in a 200 μl solution, the average spacing between beads is approximately 10 cm in the micro flow channel. It is important to have proper LITAB concentration, to ensure that the LITABs can smoothly flow into the micro flow channel 32 for optical detection. It is comparable to that of a standard cylindrical flow cell, such as flow cytometric techniques currently in use for such applications as fluorescence cell imaging.

4. Micro Bead Fluorescence Detection

In a further aspect of the present invention, a bioanalysis system is configured and structured for conducting bioanalysis using the coded bead of the present invention. The microfluidic system comprises the microfluidic apparatus to facilitate high throughput homogeneous or heterogeneous analysis. The detection zone of the microfluidic apparatus further includes a reaction detector (e.g., a fluorescence detector, an absorption detector, a chemiluminescent detector, etc.) for detecting the result of reactions taken place on the coded beads. In one embodiment, the assay of the microfluidic system is configured and adapted for high-throughput analysis for immunoassay, gene expression, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) diagnostics, DNA-based tissue typing, or transcriptional profiling.

Referring to FIG. 5, one embodiment of the microfluidic system comprises essentially the microfluidic apparatus 31 shown in FIG. 4, and a detector zone upstream of the decoding zone of the micro flow channel 32. A reaction detection system 16 is positioned at the detection zone.

When the identifiable LITAB is immobilized with the capture probe, an optical label can be used for detection of positive or negative reaction. The label can be fluorescence label, chemiluminescence label, or absorption label. In one embodiment, the reaction detection system 16 may include a fluorescence detector that measures fluorescence signal from the label material on the bead. FIG. 5 shows a mixture of LITABs 11 that is introduced into the micro flow channel for fluorescence detection. When a positive fluorescence signal is detected, it indicates a positive reaction. The reaction detection system 16 comprises a light source 41, optical filter 42 and detector 43. The choice of light source depends on the fluorophore. For example, red diode laser (665 nm), and compact Argon Laser (488 nm) or Helium laser, can be the light source for Picogreen and Cy5.5 fluorophore. Optical filter 42 removes the reflected excitation light that is mixes in the fluorescence (e.g., Picogreen: 525 nm filter and Cy5.5: 694 nm filter). The fluorescence intensity is commonly measured with a photomultiplier tube as the detector 43.

An electromagnet (not shown) may be provided at the reaction detection zone, adjacent the micro flow channel 32, to temporarily immobilize the LITAB 11 for reaction detection. The LITAB 11, which comprises a paramagnetic material, is immobilized in the flow stream by turning on the electromagnet, and is allowed to flow down the channel by turning off the electromagnet.

After reaction detection, the LITAB is identified downstream by decoding the code represented on the LITAB. A controller (not shown) may be provided to control and coordinate the operation of the decoding system in relation to the reaction detection system as explained below. The decoding system is triggered when a positive fluorescence signal (positive reaction) is detected by the fluorescence detector on a particular LITAB. The flow rate may be controlled (e.g., by feedback from the two zones) and/or the distance between the reaction detection zone and the decoding zone may be chosen such that a LITAB passes through the reaction detection zone substantially in parallel with another LITAB passing through the decoding zone. Further, the flow rate and/or the distance between the two zones may be chosen and controlled so that there is no intermediate LITAB present between the two zones when a LITAB is present at the reaction detection zone and another is present in the decoding zone.

Some aspects of the invention relate to the LITAB technology and its high-throughput screening application in immunoassay, antigen, antibody, pathogens, gene expression, nucleic acid hybridization, cancer diagnostics, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and etc. Bioassays based on LITAB can be used extensively throughout the life sciences industry, drug discovery, clinical laboratory tests, and pharmacogenomics. For example, the multiplexed bioassays can be used to measure the affinity between a chemical compound and a disease target for drug discovery and development, assist physicians in prescribing the appropriate drug therapy to match the patient's unique genetic makeup, and detect genetic variations.

In comparison to the optical reflection or emissive based micro beads in the prior art, the transmission-based micro beads of the present invention not only offer improved contrast in image signal (the transmitted light would be higher in intensity than reflected light that depends on the properties of the surface reflected therefrom), but also present simpler optical configuration for high efficiency signal collection. High optical efficiency is important when the micro bead is in micrometer scale (e.g., the longer axis of the bead is 1 mm or less) and is analyzed in a micro flow system. The coded bead of the present invention may be manufactured by well developed and reliable semiconductor processing techniques. This manufacturing approach is also superior to existing methods. Since the bead size and coding pattern can be precisely controlled by a photomask, structures can thus be easily produced reliably in batches. In addition, since this approach is straightforward, it does not require additional complex chemistry for implementing coding elements otherwise required in existing microbeads. It is contemplated that the number of codes that can be created with the present approach can be large, by varying the number, combination and/or configuration of the transmissive and opaque sections on the bead.

While the invention has been described with respect to the described embodiments in accordance therewith, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrated embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An encoded micro bead, comprising: a body comprising an intermediate layer sandwiched between two layers of a photoresist photopolymer material wherein the intermediate layer is coated or imbedded with a paramagnetic material and has a thickness of 0.1 μm and comprises an encoded pattern which is partially substantially transmissive and partially substantially opaque to light, wherein said pattern provides a code corresponding to the micro bead, wherein the outermost surface of the micro bead comprises said photoresist photopolymer and said photoresist photopolymer is functionalized with a target or capture molecule selected from the group consist of proteins, nucleic acids and small molecules and wherein said micro bead has about the same density as water.
 2. The bead of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer of the body comprises a series of alternating substantially light transmissive sections and substantially light opaque sections defining the encoded pattern.
 3. The bead of claim 2, wherein the light transmissive sections are defined by slits through the intermediate layer of the body, and the light opaque sections are defined by a light reflective material and/or a light absorptive material.
 4. The bead of claim 3, wherein the slits comprises slits of a first width and slits of a second width, and wherein the first width represents a “0” and the second width representing a “1” in a binary code.
 5. The bead of claim 4, wherein the first width is about 1 to 5 microns and the second width is about 1 to 10 microns, and wherein the first width is narrower than the second width.
 6. The bead of claim 2, wherein relative positions, widths and/or spacing between the transmissive sections and/or opaque sections represent a binary code.
 7. The bead of claim 2, wherein the substantially light opaque sections comprises a light blocking material.
 8. The bead of claim 7, wherein the light blocking material comprises a light reflective material or a light absorptive material.
 9. The bead of claim 8, wherein the light reflective material comprises a reflective metal layer.
 10. The bead of claim 9, wherein the reflective material layer is gold.
 11. The bead of claim 1, wherein the encoded pattern represents a binary code.
 12. The bead of claim 1, wherein the body is structured to have at least two orthogonal cross sections that are different in relative geometry and/or size.
 13. The bead of claim 12, wherein the body has a longest orthogonal axis of 1 mm or less.
 14. The bead of claim 1, wherein the specific target or capture molecule comprises DNA or RNA.
 15. The bead of claim 14, wherein the DNA or RNA comprises a 30-mer oligo.
 16. A bioanalysis system, comprising: at least one encoded micro bead of claim 1; a microflow apparatus having a flow channel sized and configured to confining a single one of said micro beads to advance at a time, wherein a reaction takes place on the bead; a reaction detection system at an upstream portion of said flow channel configured to detect the reaction that took place on said micro bead; and a decoding system at a downstream portion of said flow channel configured to decode the encoded pattern on said micro bead, wherein the decoding system operates in coordination with the reaction detection system.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the flow channel has an internal cross section that has a geometry that is sized and shaped to receive and allow the bead to pass through when a particular cross section of the bead is aligned with the cross section of the flow channel, thereby presenting the encoded pattern on the bead in a particular orientation with respect to the decoding zone. 